Last-Minute Mother's Day Gifts of Thought

Mom always said when giving a gift, it's the thought that counts.

So with Mother's Day upon us, here are three "thoughtful" last-minute ideas to celebrate the woman you call Mom.

An apple tree, because she never let you go hungry

Food-rescue organization, Forgotten Harvest, in partnership with Blake Farms, has developed the , through which 250 apple trees will be planted on the grounds of Blake’s Big Apple in Armada and harvested to feed the hungry of Metro Detroit.

“There will always be a need to feed the hungry, this is just a start,” said Paul Blake, representative of Blake Farms. “There’s a need out there and what better way to celebrate Mother’s Day for a mom that has maybe passed away than to donate a tree that will produce fruit for 25 years?”

Be it purchased as a memorial, or a gift, all sponsorships will be recognized on a sign posted at the entrance to Blake’s Big Apple.

“They put bricks around stadiums … this is a little different,” Blake said. “This is the gift of life. (Sponsors) can come out here and see the trees and watch their tree grow.”

Three tree sponsorships are available through the Forgotten Harvest website:

• $1,000 Donation: Plant, maintain and harvest a tree for the life of the program or up to 25 years in the Forgotten Harvest Orchard of Hope
• $500 Donation: Plant, maintain and harvest a tree for a minimum of 10 years in the Forgotten Harvest Orchard of Hope
• $250 Donation: Plant a tree in the Forgotten Harvest Orchard of Hope

Support for others, because she was always there for you

At Compassion Pregnancy Center in Clinton Township, the mission is educate and empower women of all ages, races and religions during their unplanned pregnancies by providing information, assistance and encouragement.

“Every circumstance is different,” said Chris Petitta, a Macomb Township resident who works at the center. “Some just need help to get ahead, while others feel they have no one else and need to be encouraged. You want a place like this in the community, especially as Christians, so they don’t feel that abortion is their only option.”

Run like a medical facility, the center offers free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds as well as counseling services and classes in financial planning, parenting and nutrition.

However, as a nonprofit, it relies on the support of donors and community volunteers to keep its services and programs free of charge.  

Consider making a donation to the center as a gift or memorial for Mother's Day. Donations can be made on the center's website.

“The best thing you are going to see is lives being changed,” Petitta said of the center's work. “People who come from bad circumstances are breaking the cycle and creating good healthy families, whether in marriage or outside.”

A local road, because she always took you where you needed to go

There are roughly 1,700 county roads in Macomb County and just over 500 miles of them have been adopted to date.

Adoptive groups receive safety vests and trash bags for their clean-ups, a road sign recognizing the group (or individual for whom the road was adopted) and recognition on the Adopt-A-County Road website.

For more information, or to apply to adopt a road, visit www.macombcountymi.gov/adoptaroad, or call 586-463-8671.